THE LADY IN THE PALAZZO At Home in Umbria

De Blasi's book, set in Orvieto, Italy, is about her effort, with her Venetian husband, to find, renovate, and, at last, move into the ballroom of a splendid but dilapidated palazzo of uncertain vintage. At the same time, listeners will enjoy Laural Merlington's down-to-earth, expert narration of the vivid Italian and English phrases that describe the life of the town and its inhabitants. Merlington reads clearly, seamlessly blending the two languages. She pours emotion into the dialogue as her exuberance and American disregard of Italian class distinctions at times distress her new friends and her husband. Merlington's presentation inspires a love of Italy and caresses its language. S.C.A. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 07]